People get too caught up in what they don't have and get bogged down as a result. There's joy in the present. It's important to just make the most of the these moments we have. Keep an eye on the future, but don't forget to enjoy NOW.

Which is weird. But not the craziest thing I can think of Rose doing.ʺ I appreciated the support.

Frustration filled his features. "Rose I've done a lot of bad things, most of which I can never fix or find redemption for. My only choice now, if I want to reclaim my life, is to go forward, stopping evil and doing what's right. And what is NOT right is taking a woman from another man, a man I like and respect. I'll steal cars. I'll break into houses. But there are lines I WILL not cross, no matter what I—

Dont worry, Roza, I'm not afraid. I'll take whatever heat they give me over being with you. It's worth it.

And I thought the whole point of my education was that violence IS the answer.

The training part," I guessed. "Yup. You're going to be Dimitri's partner." A moment of funny silence fell, probably not noticeable to anyone except Dimitri and me. Our eyes met. "Guarding partner," Dimitri clarified unnecessarily, like maybe he too had been thinking of other kinds of partners.

It’s easy to want peace and love in hypothetical situations—then reality sets in, and sometimes we have to do what’s ugly.